Housekeeping at offices is not just about cleaning floors and surfaces and organizing clutter. It is crucial to keep the workplaces safe and hazard free. Safety practice is a continuous process. It helps prevent accidents and injuries and improve the morale of the workforce. Falls, lifting injuries and fire are the most common accidents at the workplace. Every worker should play his or her part actively to maintain the safety standards of the workplace. The following tips are extremely effective in implementing safety procedures in the offices and warehouses.
Avoiding slips and falls
Falls lead to many injuries in the workplace. Always keep an eye on the floor as you walk. If you notice any spills on the floor, ask the housekeeping staff to clean it immediately. If you need to walk on slippery surfaces, you should wear non-skid shoes. Never climb to fetch things using storage units or chairs. Always use safe ladders. Do not lean on railings. You should use a harness when working with heights. If you need to lift a box, you should follow certain precautions. Try to push the box a little to get an idea about its weight. Never bend your waist while lifting heavy boxes. Keep your upper body straight when you lift a heavy box.
Avoiding fire hazards
Almost all the offices, factories and warehouses carry a risk of fire. Offices should have fire drills regularly for the benefit of all the employees. The employees should be aware of the escape routes, fire exits and meeting spots. Employees should not use the ‘power-strips’ at their desks. Misuse of these multiple power ports increases the risk of fire. The chemicals should be stored in a well-ventilated room. The housekeeping department should regularly examine the fire extinguishers. Every employee should know the basic fire fighting procedures. They should be aware that grease fires should not be extinguished with water but sand.
Safe handling of electricity
There is always a ‘shock risk’ in factories and warehouses. Employees should never use equipment with frayed cords, broken plugs or damaged insulation. The workers working with electrical equipment should always follow the ground rules. Employees should always use proper gloves and goggles while working on any electrical circuit. They should not use aluminum ladders as the electric current pass through it. They can use bamboo or fiberglass ladders.
Using the correct safety equipment
The management should encourage the employees to follow the safety guidelines. Workers should wear the correct safety gear during office hours. Every worker should wear proper safety goggles, ear plugs, helmets and full-face masks per their requirement. The facility managers should make the workers aware of the risks and workplace injury statistics. If there is any workplace safety issue, workers should immediately inform their supervisor. They should also follow up on the issue until it is properly resolved.
Using tools and machines correctly
The workers should take necessary precautions before handling machines and tools. They should use the appropriate tools for certain jobs. They should avoid using one tool as a quick replacement for another kind. The managers and supervisors should provide proper training to the workers before they start using the machines.
Workplace safety is the responsibility of every employee. They should always try to keep the workplace free from all risks. Timely renovation of damaged wires and tools can prevent many casualties in workplaces.
